Collapsible table



A rils, 1952 Filed Oct. 24, 1946 M. P. EXLlNE ET AL COLLAPSIBLE TABLE 2 SHEETS-SHEET l 07424594 Fab 4 /74%z/5 ilk/W5 IN V EN TOR.

April 1952 M. P. EXLINE ETAL 1,797

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Filed Oct. 24, 1946 2 Sl-IEETS-SHEET 2 A T TORNE Y Patented Apr. 8, 1952 COLLAPSIBLE TABLE Marcus P. Exline and Charles L. Ruhl, Dallas, Tex.

Application October 24, 1946, Serial No. 705,351

1 Claim.

This invention relates to household furnishings and more particularly to collapsible tables. The principal object of the invention is to provide a'table consisting of a removable or reversible top and a supporting structure composed of intercrossing sections or frames of light material of tubular or other cross-sectional shape and capable of bein collapsed into relative parallelism for storage or shipment. Novel among the features of the supporting structure is the fact that the sections, each composed of two legs joined together by parallel tubular members, are substantially identical, so that the upper tubular members of the sections will afford a support for the tabletop, lending required rigidity thereto. Aside from the collapsibility of the supporting sections, these elements, in assembled relationship are interlocking to lend further to the rigidity of the table as a whole.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible table in which, the top is not only removable or reversible but is capable of securement to one or both of the frame sections of the supporting structure so that the latter may be lifted with the top when it is desired to move the table 'from place to place. Since the supporting frame sections are themselves in interlocking relationship, it is necessary only to provide for the latching of the top to but one of the sections Whose interconnecting members underlie those of the companion section and which is therefore lifted when said companion section is lifted. Moreover, the arrangement provides that by latching the top to the underlying member of the support structure, the members themselves are secured together and the whole becomes a united structure.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: I

Figure -1 isa perspective view of a table con:

structed according to the invention showing in dotted lines the top in assembly with the supporting structure and in solid lines in displaced poi since.

' Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail view partly insection, showing the means carried jointly by a leg and the table top for latching the latter to I the supporting structure. ."Figure 3 is a detail perspectiveview fragmentarily showing interlocking relationship of the .in section, showing the top and leg assembly directly opposite the latch shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of the table top showing embedded therein the keeper for the latch mounted in a leg of the supporting structure.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the keeper per se.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the legs of the supporting structure showingone form of means for closing the upper end thereof.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the invention, the table top being shown as displaced with respect to the supporting frame structure.

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view fragmentarily showing the interlocking relationship of the interconnecting members of the legs.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view of the table top showing embedded therein the keeper for Figure 14 is a fragmentary view of a further modification in which one of the upper leg interconnecting members is axially offset at its midsection or point of intersection with the companion member.

Continuing with a more detailed descriptfin of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive wherein numeral It denotes generally the table top supporting structure which is manufactured preferably from light but strong tubular material such as aluminum or stainless steel, although other materials are ob viously suitable for the purpose. The supporting structure is made in two collapsible frame secti-ons consisting of legs I I I2, I 3 and I4 and intercrossing members l5 and Hi. The intercrossingmembers iii are arranged in parallelism, one below the other and interconnect legs II and M to constitute one section which, in assembly, is dis.-

posed in intercrossing relationship with the companion section made up of legs 12 and i3, interconnected by parallel members it, arranged one above the other.

In Figure 3 is shown the members 55 and I6 and the manner in which these members are interlocked. A recess I1 is formed in the underside of the upper member l6, its depth being half the diameter of the tubing to receive the similarly recessed midsection l8 of the underlying tubular member l5. When the members are in interlocked relationship the upper and lower surfaces are flush. A pin I9 extends through both members at their intersection and is of a length equal to twice the diameter of the member so that the members may be disengaged against the resistance of a spring 20, mounted on the pin below the lowermost of the members. When disengaged, the members l and it, both at the top and bottom, may be collapsed into substantially parallelism. A washer El and a nut 22 hold the spring on the pin l3.

The upper ends of legs ll, l2, l3 and 14 are preferably squared at 23 (Fig. 'i) and a protuberance 24 is formed on the tubing to be bent to close the open end of the tubing, as shown in Figure 4.

A removable or reversible top 25 is provided with recesses 29, 30, 3| and 32 in its corners, or periphery if a circular top is employed, which recesses are squared to receive the square upper ends of the legs. The distance to which the upper ends of the legs extend above the upper cross-members l5 and I6 is equal to the thickness of the top 25 so that the upper surface of the latter will be flush with the tops of the legs, as shown. It is apparent also that when the top 25 is in place on the supporting structure, it will rest directly upon and will be supported by the intercrossing members l5 and [6, which will be locked in position by the latch of the top.

To secure the top in position on the supporting structure, a latch 33 is provided for one corner of the top and is disposed opposite a fixed retainer 34 in another leg of the supporting structure. The latch is formed of a resilient metal strap 35, riveted at 35 inside one of the legs and a protuberance 31, attached to the strap, extends through an aperture 39 in the leg below the cross-member l5. By pressing the protuberance inwardly, the latch 33 is caused to recede from a keeper 4D, embedded in the inner wallof the recess in the top opposite the keeper.

Each recess 29, 33 and 31 and 32 contains a keeper 40 such as shown in Figures 5 and 6 although the top is secured at but two oppositely disposed points, i. e., by the latch 53 and the fixed retainer 34. By providing four keepers, it is unnecessary that the top be oriented with respect to the supporting structure to insure alignment of its recesses with the particular legs having the retaining means.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 13 inclusive, substantially the same general table design prevails except for slight variation in details of the latch for retaining the table top in relation to the supporting structure and other minor modifications. v

In Figure 8, the supporting structure consists of two sections composed of light tubular or other suitable stock formed generally in the shape of the letter W, defining legs 43, the elevated intermediate structure 44 being intercrossed and joined for relative pivotal displacement by means of a pin 45 whose length is twice the diameter of a single member to allow for elevation of one above the other to such degree as to separate the interlocked cross-members 46 and 41 which are in the same plane adjacent the tops of legs 43 to support the table top 48. The cross-members 46 and 41 are correspondingly recessed at 49 and 50 respectively (Fig. 9) for interlocking engagement.

Instead of being peripherally recessed to receive the upper ends of the legs 43, the table top 48 is provided with circular apertures 5| spaced inwardly from the edges thereof to accommodate the ends of the legs and each aperture has a circular sleeve 52 therein provided with a recess 53- adapted to receive a latch 54 (Fig. 13) defined by turning at right angles the upper end of a resilient metal strap 55 in one or more of the legs 43 whose lower end is secured (Fig. 13) to the inner wall of the tubular member forming the leg. A protuberance 56 is attached to the strap 55 and protrudes through an aperture 58 in the leg. By pressing this protuberance inwardly, the strap 55 springs outwardly to withdraw the latch 54 from the recess 53 of the sleeve retainer or keeper 52, thereby releasing the top 48 for detachment from the legs of the supporting structure.

As a manufacturing expedient, the portions of the legs 43 on which the table top 48 is mounted are fabricated separately and are sweated or otherwise secured to the upper ends of the legs. These portions consist of sleeves 59 which are attached, as described, to the upper ends of the legs 43 and each is provided with a lateral extension 60 of such diameter that it will be received in the end of a cross-member 45 or 41.

To close the open ends of the fittings 59 which are flush with the table top 48, a plug BI is inserted thereinto and secured against displacement by any suitable means.

In Figure 14 is shown fragmentarily a modification of the upper portion of the supporting structure by which recessing of the upper crossmembers 46 and 4'! may be obviated to avoid weakening thereof, yet retaining therein the characteristic principle possessed thereby of supporting the central section of the table top. This modification resides in so shaping the central section 52 of one member 63 that it will be axially offset to underlie the companion cross-member 64, yet each end thereof lies in the same plane as the companion cross-member to support the table top which may be superimposed thereon, as earlier described. As in the preceding cases, the ends of the cross-members 63 and 54 are attached to legs 65 and, as a means for interlocking the cross-members in intercrossed relationship, a saddle 66 is mounted on the cross-member 63 at its midsection, to releasably receive the companion member 64 so that the members may be detached and swung to substantially parallel relationship.

The chief characteristic of the described arrangement, irrespective of the specific design of the table top and its supporting structure, resides in that feature, among others which makes possible the uniting of the members of the supporting structure and the top in an interlocked assembly by the simple expedient of placing the top on the support and at the same time affording, by virtue of the inter-crossing members of the support, a reinforcement for the central area of the top.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification andsuch modification as may be construed to fall within the scopeand meaning of the appended claim is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of-:- the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a collapsible table construction, the combi-- nation comprising intercrossing supporting sections and a reversible top, said supporting sections each having two upright legs connected by upper and lower pairs of cross members, the ends of said legs extending slightly above the upper pair of cross members, the upper of said crossmembers being recessed for interlocking relationship at their intersections to lie in the same horizontal plane in extended position, spring means on the lower of said cross-members for resisting relative disengagement of said crossmembers, said top having recesses for receiving the upper ends of said legs extended above said cross-members, keepers embedded in one of the recesses of said top, a spring latch enclosed in one of the legs of said supporting structure having a portion extending into a keeper of said top for securing said top to said supporting 6 structure and means protruding from said leg for releasing said latch. 1

CHARLES L. RUHL MARCUS P. EXLINE.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

